“The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery.”

—Mark Van Doren

At the Missouri Botanical Garden, we regard teachers as close colleagues. The role they play in our world is simply heroic, and we thank them for their daily, unwavering commitment to creating curious, lifelong learners. To support and strengthen teachers, we offer a diversity of courses, workshops and other experiences in the summer and throughout the school year.

Some schools and districts count Garden professional development toward district-required professional development units. College credit is available for select summer workshops.

For more information, please e-mail teachertraining@mobot.org.

Administrators—Are you looking for professional development opportunities for your staff?

The Missouri Botanical Garden's School Programs team offers topnotch STEM and inquiry training for K–12 that can be incorporated into an established professional development day or offered as an evening or weekend program at your school. Programs typically last 45–60 minutes and serve up to 30 teachers. Additional programs may be scheduled within the same day to serve larger groups.

Outreach costs for professional development programs are:

• $150 for the first hour and $50 for each additional hour (to take place the same day).
• $1/mile over 20 miles.

Professional development programs may be uniquely designed for your school upon request. (Additional planning costs may be incurred. These will be discussed with you prior to scheduling.)

Please e-mail teachertraining@mobot.org to discuss programming options.

Sustainability Institute for Educators

Designed for educators from all roles and environments, the Sustainability Institute for Educators challenges participants to help learners build awareness, recognize responsibility, and take action as global citizens working to build a healthier, more sustainable world. This year, Institute participants will explore the multidisciplinary nature of climate change.

Teaching about the climate crisis can be daunting, but is not insurmountable. Climate action is happening all around us. Teachers can help students move through the natural anxiety they may be experiencing to join in and spark new solutions-oriented action.

Through interactive sessions and local climate change expert presentations, educators will learn the basics of climate science and how to bring climate solutions to their learning spaces. Sessions will demonstrate how a range of disciplines can work together to understand and address the needs of climate change through education and youth engagement. Join us to gain knowledge, tools, strategies, and community networking to explore climate solutions and help tackle this critical issue.

This year’s Institute will take place June 20-22, 2023, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Learning locations will include Missouri Botanical Garden, Saint Louis Zoo, and Webster University. The $125 registration fee includes participation in the three-day Institute and lunch. Graduate credit is available through Webster University for an additional cost. Scholarships are available.

Learn more and register

Energy Efficiency Educator Workshops

Various Dates

Join EarthWays Center at the 2023 Energy Efficiency Educator Workshops this summer! We are offering in-person and virtual workshops across Missouri. This free workshop is a great professional learning opportunity to discover new ways to teach energy. Educators will explore the science behind energy and sustainability through hands-on, interactive activities and classroom lessons.

Workshop topics will include:

• Background information about energy topics including forms and sources
• Discussion of energy efficiency and conservation
• Connections between energy, electricity, and natural gas
• Renewable energy sources and solutions

Participants will receive:

• A stipend*
• Digital access to all lessons and activities
• Energy science toolkit.

Educators from formal or informal setting with an interest in learning more about teaching energy topics including efficiency, renewable energy sources and sustainability should attend. Activities covered throughout the two-day session are aligned to support state standards and designed to be scaled to a variety of grade levels.

Workshops are available in June, July, and August in cities across Missouri so that you can pick the best date and location for your summer plans.

Educators from formal or informal setting with an interest in learning more about teaching energy topics including efficiency, renewable energy sources and sustainability should attend. Activities covered throughout the two-day session are aligned to support state standards and designed to be scaled to a variety of grade levels. Sessions are available in June, July and August!

*You must live or work in Spire or Liberty Utilities territory to qualify for a stipend and toolkit. Check your local utility here.

Learn more and register

Thinking Beyond the 3Rs

July 27, 2023

If you’ve ever wanted to start your students thinking about trash and recycling, but didn’t know where to begin, we have something for you. This FREE workshop will provide you with the resources, tools, and knowledge you need to bring solid-waste related topics like recycling, composting, and waste reduction into your classroom and empower students to make change in their community. The “Thinking Beyond the 3Rs” workshop was developed to assist educators in curriculum support, implementing special projects, and creating behavioral changes that promote wise resource use in schools throughout the greater St. Louis region. We encourage educators from all schools, subjects, and grade-levels to attend.

In this workshop, you will:

• Get a full understanding of what happens when we throw things “away.”
• Build confidence in your own content knowledge.
• Learn best practices to encourage environmental stewardship in students.
• Develop students’ problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Help students plan, implement, and evaluate projects with real-world impacts.
• Access cross-curricular, inquiry-based materials and lesson plans.

Learn more and register

Clean Water Educator Workshop

August 3, 2023

Get started in building your knowledge and understanding of stormwater issues in the St. Louis area! This free workshop is designed to help facilitate your desire to learn more about stormwater management and water quality while discovering new ways to bring this topic back to the classroom.

During the workshop we will:

• Discuss issues related to stormwater management and water quality such as non-point vs point source pollution, pollution impact, and best management practices for our community.
• Review curriculum ideas that tie to state standards while still providing meaningful, engaging, and hands-on learning opportunities you can do with your students!
• Train YOU on how to use the popular EnviroScape® watershed model; models are available for loan FREE from the MSD Clean Water Education program. Work with staff to learn how to present and use this model in your classroom.

Eligible Educators will receive a stipend for attending this workshop and participating in the program. Educators must teach at a school located in the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District's service area to be eligible for the stipend.

Learn more and register

The EarthWays Sustainability Network (ESN) is a year-long teacher professional development program that serves to provide waste and recycling support to educators throughout the St. Louis community. This network of trained educators is dedicated to learning more about waste, waste reduction, and recycling, takes a leadership role in their school's efforts to reduce waste and provides peer support and guidance to other educators.
Learn more

Check out our Education E-Scoop, a monthly resource featuring outdoor learning tips, science and literacy links and upcoming programs.
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Advanced Inquiry Program
Check out a graduate degree program that combines web-based courses through Miami University with experiential learning, internships, and field study in person at the Garden. Learn more